"The bond of the French-speaking community is the recognition of an
intangible sovereign: the French language, which shines, splendid, on a
throne of words. It does not dispense justice: it dispenses accuracy."

ALSATIAN(ALLEMANNISCH,
SCHWYZERDÜTSCH) 1,500,000 in France (J.A. Hawkins in B.
Comrie 1988); 4,225,000 in Switzerland (1986); 300,000 in Austria
(1991 A. Schmid). Southeastern France, Alsace-Lorraine. Also in
southern Germany. Indo-European, Germanic, West, Continental, High.
No standard form of Alsatian, but a variety of village dialects. All
speakers do not necessarily understand or read Standard German, but
most are bilingual in French. Bilingualism in Standard French varies
from 79% to 90% of the population in the different regions. German is
taught in primary schools. Called 'Schwyzerdütsch' in
Switzerland and 'Allemannisch' in Austria and parts of Germany. NT
1984. Bible portions 1936-1986.

AUVERGNAT(AUVERNHAS, AUVERNE,
OCCITAN) Auvergne; Haut-Auvergnat in Cantal and south of
Haute-Loire; Bas-Auvergnat in the north of Haute-Loire and in
Puy-de-Dome. Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Dialects: HAUT-AUVERGNAT,
BAS-AUVERGNAT. Highly fragmented dialect situation, with limited
intelligibility between northern and southern varieties. Language use
is more vigorous in the south. Bible portions 1831. Survey needed.

BRETON(BREZHONEG) 500,000
speakers for whom it is the daily language in France (1989 ICDBL);
1,200,000 know Breton who do not regularly use it; 32,722 in USA
(1970 census). Western Brittany, but also dispersed in Eastern
Brittany and Breton emigrant communities throughout the world.
Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic. Dialects: LEONAIS,
TREGORROIS, VANNETAIS, CORNOUAILLAIS. No official status. 18,000
speakers are children under 14 years; 56,250 between 15 and 24;
423,000 between 25 and 64; 168,000 over 65 (1974). 25% can read and
write Breton. Some claim to be monolingual in Breton. Strong
nationalistic movement demanding recognition, a place in the schools,
media, and public life. There are some radio and television programs.
Bible 1866-1985. NT 1827-1971. Bible portions 1820-1985.

CORSICAN(CORSU, CORSO, CORSE,
CORSI) 281,000 in Corsica (1993 Johnstone); 60,000 in Western
Hemisphere (1968 H. Kloss); the in all countries in France's former
colonies and USA is greater than on Corsica (1976 Stephens); 341,000
or more in all countries. Corsica, Paris, Marseilles. Also in Canada,
Puerto Rico, USA, Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Uruguay, Italy.
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Corsican. Dialects:
SARTENAIS, VICO-AJACCIO, NORTHERN CORSICAN (CAPE CORS, BASTIA),
VENACO. Corsican is in the Tuscan group of Italian dialects. Southern
Corsican is closer to northern Sardinian or Gallurese than other
Corsican dialects (R. A. Hall, Jr.). Dialects of Bastia, Venaco,
Vico, and Sartene have 79% to 89% lexical similarity. Bonifacio on
the southern tip of Island has 78% lexical similarity (highest) with
Bastia at extreme north. Ajaccio dialect is central and prestigious.
Corsican has been recognized as a separate language by the French
government. Speakers are bilingual in French but many are not fluent
in it. There is a movement for bilingual education. Bible portions
1861-1994. Work in progress.

DUTCH(FLEMISH) 90,000 in
Westhoek (1976 Stephens); 20,000,000 to 21,000,000 in all countries.
Westhoek in the northeast corner of France between the Artois Hills
and the Belgium border. Also Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles,
Belgium, Surinam, USA. Indo-European, Germanic, West, Continental,
Low, Dutch. Not used in schools. Flemish is a co-dialect with Dutch,
but not a separate language. Bible 1522-1988. NT 1480-1992. Bible
portions 1477-1986.

FRENCH SIGN LANGUAGE(LANGUE DES
SIGNES FRANÇAISE, LSF, FSL) 50,000 to 100,000 primary
users in France (1986 Gallaudet Univ.) 1,000 users of Marseille Sign
Language (1975 Sallagoïty). Southern FSL is used in Marseille,
Toulon, La Ciotat, and Salon de Provence. FSL is also in Togo. Deaf
sign language. Dialect: MARSEILLE SIGN LANGUAGE (SOUTHERN FRENCH SIGN
LANGUAGE). First sign language in the western world to gain
recognition as a language (1830). Originated in 1752. Sign languages
were known in France in the 16th century, and probably earlier. Many
sign languages have been influenced by this, but are not necessarily
intelligible with it. Reported to be partially intelligible with sign
languages from Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Italy, at least. 43%
lexical similarity with American Sign Language in an 872-word list.
Distinct from Signed French and Old French Sign Language.

GASCON(OCCITAN) 250,000 in
all countries speakers (1990 P. Blanchet); including 4,800 Aranese in
Spain (1984 census). The population in the Bearn region of southern
Gasconha, France, is 400,000 (1992). 51% speak the language, 70%
understand it, 85% are in favor of doing something to save it.
Gascogne Province, from Médoc to the Pyrénées,
from the Atlantic to the Catalan area. Biarnese is spoken by a strong
majority in the Biarn. Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western,
Western, Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Dialects: LANDAIS,
BÉARNAIS (BIARNESE), ARIÉGEOIS, ARANESE. Gascon,
Occitan (Languedocien), and Limousin are structurally separate
languages (F.B. Agard). Some intelligibility of Provençal;
Gascon has some or limited intelligibility of Languedocien (reports
differ). Inherently intelligible with Aranese in Spain, which is a
dialect. Called 'Aranese Gascon' is Spain. Bible portions 1583-1983.
Work in progress.

LANGUEDOCIEN(LENGADOUCIAN,
LANGUEDOC, LANGADOC, OCCITAN, OCCITANI) Fluent speakers are 10%
of the population in the region. About 20% more have some knowledge
of it. Languedoc Province, from Montpellier to Toulouse, Bordeaux,
Rodez, and Albi. Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western,
Western, Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Dialects: BAS-LANGUEDOCIEN,
LANGUEDOCIEN MOYEN, HAUT-LANGUEDOCIEN, GUYENNAIS. A separate language
from Provençal (P. Blanchet 1990). Gascon has limited
intelligibility of Languedocien. Attempts to standardize Languedocien
for all languages of southern France have not been accepted by
speakers of those languages. Toulousse orthography is different from
Ron. Mainly spoken in rural communities by people over 50. Everyone
speaks French as first or second language. Bible portions 1888.
Survey needed.

LIMOUSIN(LEMOSIN, OCCITAN)
Spoken by 10% to 20% of the population of the region. Limousin
Province. Haut-Limousin around Limoges, Guéret, and Nontron in
Charente; Bas-Limousin around Correze and Périgord.
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Dialects: HAUT-LIMOUSIN, BAS-LIMOUSIN.
Limousin, Occitan, and Gascon are structurally separate languages
(F.B. Agard). Partially intelligible to Provençal. People
speak French as first or second language. In the north of the
province people use a transition dialect with certain Oïl
features. Survey needed.

PROVENÇAL(PROUVENÇAU, OCCITAN) 250,000 fluent speakers in
France; 800,000 with some knowledge (1990 P. Blanchet); 100,000
speakers of all ages of Transalpin dialect in Italy (1990); 4,500 in
Monaco (1988); 354,500 in all countries. Southeastern France,
province of Provence, south of Dauphiné, region of Nimes in
Languedoc. Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western,
Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. Dialects: TRANSALPIN, NIÇARD
(NIÇOIS), MARITIME PROVENÇAL (MARSEILLAIS, TOULONNAIS,
VAROIS), GAVOT (ALPIN, VALEIEN, GAPIAN, FORCALQUIEREN), RHODANIEN
(NIMOIS), DAUPHINOIS (DROMOIS). Gascon, Occitan, and Limousin are
structurally separate languages (F. Agard). Provençal and
Languedocien (Occitan) are separate languages (P. Blanchet 1990). No
variety is universally accepted as the standard literary form. Two
orthographies in use: Ron and Toulousse. Niçard and Northern
Gavot (Valeien and Gapian) are more difficult for other dialect
speakers to understand. Through increased contact in army and school,
most speakers are actively bilingual in French. Most speakers are
above 50 years old. Literary French is sometimes difficult for
speakers with less school education. Regional French has a lot of
Provençal influence. There is regional pride and increasing
status as a literary language. Strong demand for teaching in school
and books in Provençal. Bible portions 1824-1975. Work in
progress.

SHUADIT(SHUADI,
JUDEO-PROVENÇAL, JUDEO-COMTADINE) Department of Vaucluse
in southern France, and city of Avignon. Indo-European, Italic,
Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Ibero-Romance, North, Eastern. It
became extinct in 1977. May still be used in Passover song. Jewish.

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